Memo to Jamaal Charles: Don't stand by waiting for a call from Canton

Clark Judge

Apr 11, 2019

One week after Pat McAfee called punter Shane Lechler “a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” we have Jamaal Charles’ supporters telling us that the free-agent running back “will get in” the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Not might. Will.

Funny, but I thought the Hall’s 48 selectors made those decisions.

Wait a minute. They do.

Jamaal Charles can make a Hall-of-Fame argument. In fact, he did earlier this week when he told TMZ that “some of my numbers look way better than some people already in Canton.” And he’s right. His career rushing average of 5.4 yards-per-carry is second only to Hall-of-Famer Marion Motley.

And that’s great. But that doesn’t punch you a ticket for Canton. If it did, then tell me why Ken Riley’s 65 interceptions don’t have him in the Hall? Or why Buddy Dial’s 20.8 yards-per-reception haven't gotten him there? Or Tony Romo’s 7.9 yards-per-pass attempt? Or Clay Matthews’ 1,561 tackles?

All those numbers were “way better than some people already in Canton.” Yet they’re not there.

The problem here is that Jamaal Charles and his advocates lose sight of the bigger picture. There is more … much more … involved to a Hall-of-Fame career. For instance:

-- Where he ranks among the all-time rushing leaders. Charles is 56th.

-- Where he ranks in career rushing touchdowns. He’s tied at 97th.

-- Where he ranks in all-time scrimmage yards. He’s 102nd.

-- First-team All-Pro selections. Charles had two.

-- Durability and length of career. He had six seasons where he played 15 or more games and none where he started all 16. Moreover, he had seven seasons where he started five or fewer games, including none in his last four years.

-- Playoff performance. He participated in only two playoff games (both losses) and gained a total of 100 yards rushing while scoring once.

OK, so let’s look at each separately. While he ranks 56th in career rushing, the guy who’s 55th is Hall-of-Famer Terrell Davis -- and, let’s face it, he had only three blockbuster seasons before his career was cut short by a knee injury.

But Davis was a Super Bowl MVP, a league MVP and excelled when it counted most – in the playoffs. In eight postseason games, he ran for 100 or more yards seven times, averaged 143 yards rushing per game and 5.6 yards per carry and scored 12 times – including an NFL-record eight in the 1997 playoffs.

In short, he was one of the best playoff performers in NFL history

Now let’s look at career rushing touchdowns. Charles is 97th, or just behind Ken Willard, Tom Matte, Natrone Means, Wilbert Montgomery and Jim Nance. None is in the Hall, and none has ever been discussed. Nor has Pete Johnson, who ranks 24th … or Ottis Anderson, who’s 19th … or Corey Dillon at 18.

Then there’s Priest Holmes. He ranks 15th in career touchdowns, and you want to talk about a Kansas City Chiefs’ back that has “some numbers way better than some people already in Canton?” You’re looking at him.

Holmes twice led the league in rushing touchdowns, once setting an NFL single-season record. He was a single-season league rushing leader. He was the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year. And he was a Super Bowl champion.

Granted, he wasn’t named to two All-Pro first teams like Charles. He was named to three.

Now I know what you’re thinking about durability. What about Terrell Davis? Good question. His selection weakened the longevity argument and opened the door to candidates who heretofore weren’t considered because of the lengths of their careers. But what pushed his candidacy over the top was his playoff performance when he (literally) carried Denver to its first two Super Bowl wins.

He was his best when it counted most. But he was also a two-time Offensive Player of the Year, league MVP, Super Bowl MVP, NFL rushing leader and two-time league leader in rushing touchdowns. Still, it took him 11 years to be elected.

By contrast, Jamaal Charles led the league in rushing touchdowns once. Period.

Look, Jamaal Charles was a marvelous running back and, yes, he can make a Hall-of-Fame case for himself. But tell me: Would you rather have Jamaal Charles in your backfield than, say, Ricky Watters? How about Fred Taylor? Or Tiki Barber, Roger Craig, Fred Taylor, Larry Brown, Eddie George, Jamal Lewis or Ottis Anderson?

None are in Canton. And only Craig has been a finalist. In fact, Craig has been the only semifinalist.

My point is this: Jamaal Charles had an illustrious career, but so did dozens of other running backs who aren’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So don’t tell me he’s getting in when they have not. Because the line forms at the rear. And that line goes around the block.

Follow on Twitter @ClarkJudgeTOF

Comments (7)

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brian wolf

Apr 15, 2019

Charles was an explosive, big play running back who brought the fans out of their seats but was just too injury prone. Priest Holmes was the same way but has a championship.
Both players benefitted from balanced offences. Eddie George, Corey Dillon, Jamal Lewis, OJ Anderson were backs who
were coming no matter how many defenders were in the box.
NFL History has many good to great backs who thrilled fans and played during eras where ball control and using the clock were instrumental. Ron Borges brought up Ricky Watters but also even Ricky Williams, talented backs with great careers who were too tempermental. At least in Watters case.

Then there is Don Perkins of the 60s Dallas Cowboys. He wasnt the most exciting or dominant runner but when he retired, he was in the top Eight of all time running yardage but he spent as much time blocking as any running back and sacrificed for an up and coming team. Believe it or not, up until 65, he was the Cowboys best blocker of his QB. His greatest day was the 1966 Championship Game where he carried the team on his back, but my beloved team choked away the final minute of the game. Perkins was never given the ball inside the two yard line.

Clark Judge

Editor

Apr 16, 2019

So, Brian, of all those guys you named, who would be the next you would put in the Hall?

Clark Judge

Editor

Apr 16, 2019

Or would you put any of them in? Believe that Edge may make it in 2020, but I'm talking this list that you just proposed.

brian wolf

Apr 16, 2019

Thanks Clark. As you said, James should get in but I would like to see the senior commitee put in OJ Anderson next.
I think he did everything that was needed, including being a SB MVP, and he crossed the 10,000 yardage barrier at a time when very few backs did and had to prove himself on two different teams.

Clark Judge

Editor

Apr 16, 2019

He's a long shot. If any shot. Just don't hear his name there … and not sure why. Good to hear from you, Brian.